Fixing a PO nightmare - CPP Tilt Hood
 

I come to the forum gurus with my head held low. I purchased a 1955 F100 last week and got it home. The previous owner had installed a CPP front tilt hood kit. The problem is one of the bracket broke and he patched rather poorly. In the process it seems he cut the arms shorter and moved the bracket some. Now the hood doesn't open the greatest. I am trying to find some measurements so I can move the arms back to the original position and fab up some new brackets that bolt through the the original and not welded up like the PO did. The two measurements I need are the: length of the "arm" from the round center section to were it attaches to the hood supports via a bolt AND the distance from the bracket at the front to were it should connect to the hood support arms. (The circled areas on the graphic) I will try to get some photos uploaded later to make my request clearer. I did try contacting CPP for answers but was told that I should "just order a new kit". I am not interested in giving even more money to CPP in the the near future. Any help is appreciated.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ictureid=71636

The length of that arm is 5 7/8" from the round pivot bar to the center of the bolt at the end of the arm. My hood is off at the moment and likely will be for awhile. I also made a copy of the kit for a future project. If you need any other measurement just ask.

:-hijacked

56panelford, Do you have a drawing of the kit? What year is it for? If so can I get a copy of it?

Isn't it great how you can ask a question on this forum and have it answered succinctly and quickly?

This is why this forum rocks! Thanks! My arms have been cut down to 4". The PO was at least up front about the damage and modification. He said the brackets were bent and damaged when high winds hit the hood while it was up at a show.

56Panelford: Since the hood is off, would it be possible to get a couple of photos of the arm bracket and hood bracket areas? I want to get it back to factory specs as close as possible. Thanks again. :)

I don't have any drawing as I just duplicated the the parts or should say some of the parts as I got side tracked. The kit is for the 53-56. If you check with 48 Steel 1948 Ford F1 4x2 - Hood Pancake and flipped he has done the flip hood for your model year.

I'll take some pics this morning and post them this afternoon.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=242660&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=242659&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=242658&.jpg

The main brackets are not firmly attached to the hood as I'm getting ready to spray some primer when I get the chance. I hope these pictures will give you the information you need, if not let me know.

Thanks for the pic 56. That helps greatly. Thanks!!!!

No problem, let us know how you make out.

Hey 56,
I lengthened the arms back out to 5 7/8' but they are still too short. The hood won't clear the front fenders. When the PO redid things he moved the triangle-like brackets and welded them in place. I don't know where the original holes to mount the bracket were because he replaced that section. I do know things aren't right because the two brackets are placed differently. I'll probably have to cut it all out and trial and error it. Can you post a picture from the side view of the "Z" bracket to the triangle bracket area? Maybe I can eyeball things and get it figured out. Thanks in advance for your help.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=242758&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=242759&.jpg

Sorry for the delay, I'm working the nightshift. The measurements for the bolt holes measuring from the end of the square tubing are 5 3/4" and 7" to the center of the holes. The angled bracket has 3/4" long slots for adjustment and the pivot hole is 1 3/4" down for the arm you extented.
In the first picture the white bracket is from the kit I bought and the unpainted one is the bracket I duplicated. Hope the pictures and measurements give you the help you need.
Here's the link to CPP's instructions if you haven't checked them out;
http://www.classicperform.com/tech_a...rdTiltHood.htm

John

Thank you John. I finally figured out what the PO did. He had shortened the arms out from the pivot bar, welded the holes shut and welded the brackets solid AND changed the angle of hood bars. It was the angle of the hood bars that made everything out of wack. I redid the hood bars with some 1" square tubing and redrilled the holes. Now the brackets bolt up again. Your measurements made it happen. Thank you.

Good news,glad I was able to help.

Man that sounds like a lot of work from the PO to make it not work properly.

Since I'm a newbee when it comes to rebuilding my truck; whenever I work on the truck I continually ask myself if something I'm doing would make me a PO. (Although I never plan on selling this truck, it will get handed down.)